Quito, Ecuador, Sep 12, 2008 / 02:39 am (CNA).- Archbishop Raul Vela of Quito has encouraged priests and the faithful to celebrate the feast of the Holy Cross on September 14 by offering Masses and prayer vigils for the September 28 referendum on the country’s new constitution. “When important decisions have to be made, we must resort to prayer,” he said.

“I suggest that in all parishes and religious communities, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass be celebrated on the 14th, the solemnity of the Holy Cross, for these intentions and on the eve of the feast or commemoration of Our Lady of Sorrows prayer vigils be held,” the archbishop said in a letter to all priests of the archdiocese.

He stressed the importance of the upcoming referendum and said, “The decision which each citizen in conscience must make, for Catholics, must be enlightened by the Word of God and the Social Teaching of the Church. The decision requires reflection before confrontation.”

Therefore, he called for “more intense prayer to Jesus in these days, for respect for life, the family and for respect for each person.” “May the campaigns Ecuadorans are carrying out prior to the referendum be carried out with absolute respect for all people, let the confrontation be over ideas and let the hatred cease. In a special way we pray for peace in our country, a peace sustained by truth and justice,” the archbishop said.